Chapter 21. I Will Bring You Back
While organizing the report to deliver to Demon, Haim was in the ducal residence’s office. His master, who had returned late last night, had eyes redder than ever, with a resolute expression as if he had made up his mind about something. That appearance was so determined that even Haim, who watched him, felt a chill run down his spine.
“He must be happy to have found the spirit stone… so why does he give off such a terrifying aura?”
It was probably because he had sent Elize back to the imperial palace. Haim believed that Demon had fallen for her ever since he kissed her. Moreover, she had become someone meaningful to him in many ways.
“And yet, to pour such terrifying magic toward someone he has feelings for… he’s truly a frightening man.”
Unaware of Demon’s feelings of apology toward Elize, Haim muttered to himself.
“What do you mean, someone I have feelings for? Would you like to taste this terrifying magic yourself?”
“Eek!”
Demon had apparently arrived at some point and overheard Haim’s muttering.
“I-I’m sorry, Your Grace! I deserve to die for my words….”
“Enough nonsense. Deliver this letter to Mikail today.”
Mikail had gone to investigate what Demon had requested. He was researching cases where humans possessed the power of spirits and how that affected those with magic. Since the Holy Nation was far away, Mikail planned to stay in the empire for several months now that he had returned after a long time.
He’s probably gone to meet his younger brother.
Mikail’s destination was the academy his younger brother attended. His brother was known there as an outstanding prodigy.
“By the way, Your Grace. About the spirit stones mined by Count Taylor before… wouldn’t that amount be enough for one rampage?”
“……”
For the Duke of the Cremian ducal house, “rampage” was a matter directly tied to the survival of the family, so Haim, being close to him, always kept it in mind.
“One instance should be possible.”
“Then just how many spirit stones are hidden within the imperial family?”
“…Who knows.”
Even Demon did not know. In truth, a “rampage” referred to the sudden release of a massive amount of magical power at once. As with most overwhelming forces, when destructive magic is unleashed in large quantities all at once, immense damage inevitably follows. The problem was that those with magical power could not control the amount released. Thus, across generations, the ducal house needed a force to prevent such rampages—and that was the power of spirits.
If destructive power is magic, and the power that restores fading life is divine power, then the power of spirits is that which purifies destructive magic. Purified magic could be controlled, and it could be used either to restore or to destroy. Through spirit power, magic could become either destructive force or healing force, so whoever possessed spirit power held great significance.
The issue was that the number of spirit stones containing spirit power was limited. For generations, the imperial family had monopolized them. They had no magic themselves to utilize spirit power, but they could use the stones as leverage to control and threaten the Cremian ducal house.
“Be loyal to the imperial family. Otherwise, there will be no spirit stones.”
This was why the head of the ducal house had long had a strained relationship with the imperial family. In terms of strength, the ducal house was far more powerful, but due to that accursed “promise,” they could not stand against the imperial family.
And yet… she possesses spirit power…
With the recent successful mining of spirit stones, this fact had been confirmed. The power she possessed was indeed spirit power. In other words, Elize was like a living spirit stone. Like a spring that continuously flows, as long as her life continued, that power would keep emerging.
In a sense, she holds the fate of the ducal house and mine in her hands.
It felt as though destiny itself was whispering that he must obtain Elize. She was undeniably essential to the ducal house. But what was she to him personally?
…….
Demon could not answer his own question. He did not know how to define the unfamiliar emotions he had been feeling lately. However, he would do anything to bring her back. That was what he had realized last night. He needed her—for understanding his own complex feelings and for the survival of the ducal house. According to Mikail, Elize had requested help, so perhaps she was waiting for a response on how she could be assisted.
I should meet her and give her an answer.
Demon asked Haim,
“Is the imperial banquet in two days?”
“You mean the party for Lady Elize? Yes, that’s correct.”
“I will go to the imperial palace briefly tomorrow evening.”
“Understood, Your Grace.”
He had a promise with Psyche, so he had to attend the banquet as her partner. But before that, there was something Demon needed to do.
That Night
Amid the books she had read through the night, Elize woke up.
“Good heavens, Lady Elize! You fell asleep at your desk?”
“Mm… Margaret? It’s been a while since I’ve had something this interesting.”
This was the first free time she had since possessing this world. While reading books she had always loved in her previous life and letting her imagination roam freely, she had been able to temporarily set aside the reality of being inside a novel, the aching longing for Demon, the suffocating fear of death, and Roan’s obsession. Thanks to that, Elize felt completely refreshed. Of course, she still thought of Demon from time to time, but that only strengthened her resolve to regain her composure and escape as soon as possible. Strangely enough, the more she read, the lighter her heart and mind became.
“Tomorrow is the day of the banquet held for you, Lady Elize, so today will be quite busy.”
“Is there something I need to prepare?”
“You’ll need to try on the outfit and accessories you’ll wear tomorrow.”
Ah! So I finally get to do this—the princess experience I never properly had because survival was more urgent!
“And in the evening, would you take a short walk with me?”
Margaret smiled gently as she approached and whispered to Elize.
“That person wishes to meet you. Would that be alright?”
At that moment, Elize’s breath stopped.
Demon had requested to meet her.
“Of course!”
The answer slipped out of her mouth immediately. Her heart felt like it might burst out of her chest at the thought that he was coming to see her at the imperial palace when she had been longing to see him so desperately. Her face flushed, and she swallowed hard, her chest tightening with nerves. She wondered how she could possibly wait until this evening.
In the imperial office, Roan and Psyche sat working together. Roan wore a sulky expression. He had to stay constantly by Psyche’s side. He desperately wanted to see Elize, but due to Psyche’s frequent complaints of dizziness, he was effectively tied down. Even though the empress beside him continued her busy preparations for the banquet, he had no justification to leave her side and go to his concubine.
“I cannot become a shameless emperor who abandons his weak empress, who is working despite her condition, just because the banquet is approaching.”
He began to wonder when he had become such a moral emperor when Psyche brought up the banquet.
“Your Majesty, guests from neighboring countries will also be attending this banquet.”
At her words, Roan’s interest was piqued.
“Which countries will be attending?”
“Hildern, Siedel, and…”
“Wait—did you say Siedel?”
“Yes, that’s correct.”
Roan’s face brightened. He had sent a letter there some months ago. The imperial treasury’s supply of spirit stones was running low, and Siedel might be the key to resolving that.
“Who is coming?”
“The Crown Prince, Zaide, will be attending as the representative.”
Roan’s blue eyes narrowed slightly. Siedel was known for limited interaction with other nations. However, unlike the rest of the royal family, the young crown prince Zaide was known to be progressive and outgoing.
“I’ve heard he’s quite the handsome man.”
Roan glanced toward Psyche as he spoke, but she continued flipping through documents with a disinterested expression.
“Is that so?”
She seemed entirely uninterested. Roan inwardly relaxed. Although he had Elize as a concubine, he did not want Psyche to take any lovers or concubines of her own.
It may be selfish, but that’s honestly how I feel.
He was relieved that Psyche showed little interest in men. Smiling in satisfaction, he looked at her as she pulled the bell cord beside her desk.
“Shall we have some tea? There are still matters regarding the banquet I’d like to discuss.”
“Very well.”
A tea set prepared by the empress was brought into the room. Psyche lifted a cup and offered it to Roan.
“Please, have some.”
Unaware of the surprise she had prepared for the banquet, Roan sipped the sweet tea she had provided, smiling contentedly.
I wonder if I’ll be able to remain this composed when Demon and I appear together.
Psyche also smiled as she raised her cup.
As twilight deepened, Elize and Margaret walked through the beautiful gardens of the imperial palace after finishing their meal and light refreshments. Although the knights assigned as her guards by Emperor Roan were present, she had asked them to stay at a distance, wishing to have some quiet time, promising to signal if any emergency arose. Calling it a garden was almost an understatement—it was like a forest within the palace grounds. Margaret led Elize to a spot with particularly tall trees where it was difficult to see from the outside.
“I will step away for a moment.”
At that point, Margaret excused herself.
Soon, two red glows approached from a distance.
It was Demon.
“…Ah.”
Unknowingly, a small exclamation escaped Elize’s lips, which she quickly covered with both hands, holding back the tears that welled up. She could not tell whether they were tears of joy and relief, or sorrow and longing. Demon stopped a few steps away, close enough to reach.
“Thank you for agreeing to meet me.”
He spoke in the same voice and appearance that had once captured Elize’s heart completely.
“I came to ask for your permission regarding one matter before the banquet tomorrow begins.”
“My… permission?”
Elize barely managed to speak, her voice trembling.
“Yes. I plan to attend the imperial banquet tomorrow.”
He’s coming to the banquet? That means we’ll meet again tomorrow?
Her golden eyes widened with excitement.
“I will be attending as the empress’s partner.”
Her eyes began to tremble.
“As the empress’s… partner?”
“Yes.”
Just imagining Demon standing beside another woman, escorting her gently with his strong arm, pierced Elize’s heart with pain.
Ah… so he’s going to fall in love with Psyche as in the original story…
Her eyes quickly reddened, and tears began to well up.
Demon did not miss that reaction.
“It is a contractual arrangement. There are no personal feelings involved.”
Contract?
Surprise briefly appeared in her eyes, then turned into relief. From her reaction, Demon confirmed what he had heard from her murmurs two nights ago—it was indeed his name she had called.
At the very least, she has feelings for me.
She had sought him even in her sleep, longed for him, and now even felt jealousy. Though he could not measure the depth or nature of her emotions, it was clear she had some affection for him.
“Is that what you came to ask permission for? Whether it’s alright for you to attend as the empress’s partner?”
“No, that is not it.”
Ah… I almost misunderstood that she liked me.
Although Demon denied it, that was not entirely untrue. He had not come to seek permission per se, but he felt compelled to inform Elize beforehand. He was worried she might misunderstand his relationship with the empress.
“There is something else I wish to ask your permission for.”
Beyond the tall trees, the setting sun burned red against the horizon, growing even more crimson. Demon’s gaze, too, shone red as it reflected Elize.
“I dare to ask…”
“……”
Elize remained silent, looking into his eyes and waiting for his next words. Even though she knew she should not expect anything, the image of his eyes from the moment he had been under dark magic kept resurfacing in her mind. Back then, she had felt that he might have had some feelings for her—and she wanted to believe that.
Though he had sent her back to the palace without hesitation, he had sent Margaret to her instead, and now he had come to ask for something. Perhaps…
Is it wrong for me to think he might like me, even just a little?
She wanted to believe that she had at least some of his concern and attention.
After a long pause, he finally spoke.
“May I protect you?”
“…?!”
Protect me…? Demon wants to protect me? Why?
“And as I mentioned in the carriage last time…”
Elize swallowed hard, her throat dry with tension.
“As soon as preparations are complete, I will bring you back to the ducal house.”
“!”
Just as she had hoped, he was telling her that he would bring her back.
